Learning Lessons: Supporting Good Governance in the Pacific

Good governance and sound public sector management matter to development. It is widely agreed that better governed countries will likely make better development progress than poorly governed countries.

In the majority of ADB developing member countries in the Pacific, progress is sluggish on social and economic development objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals. While all Pacific governments have committed to improving governance, and ADB and other development partners continue to provide support, there remain key concerns in issues of capacity, implementation, and enforcement.

In a 2011 special evaluation study, the Independent Evaluation Department explored governance and development in the Pacific, assessed ADB's support for governance and public sector management in the past decade, and presented lessons and recommendations.

Among key lessons drawn for the study is that better coordination and capacity will be needed, with more assistance coming from more providers. It says this will necessitate continued partnership building with traditional and possibly nontraditional ADB partners, more effective leveraging of available resources, and a sharper focus on areas with a history of success.

The study recommends a shift in emphasis from broad-scope policy lending to longer term sector development programs supporting priority sectors to secure lasting governance outcomes; and exploring nontraditional approaches to enhance transparency in Pacific developing member countries to sustain improvements in governance.